Film Strategy

One drawback of making shooting and editing technology accessible to the masses is that the field gets crowded with more filmmakers vying for the limited attention of audiences and clients.  And while technology has made the field more democratic, it hasn't leveled the pyramidic structure of the movie industry.  At the top of the movie industry are the titans like Spielberg, Lucas, Scorcese, Malick, Nolan and all the other A-list Hollywood filmmakers.  Below them are the top indie filmmakers like Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson, Jared Hess, Neill Blomkamp, Shane Carruth (you could also add the top directors in television, music videos, commercials and documentaries here). Below them are the filmmakers who have had their films appear in the top film festivals, at least once, and are in a good position to move up the pyramid with their next project.  Below them are the filmmakers who have a very good track record overall; a combination of lots of festival screenings, financiers willi

Raiders of the Lost Ark | Steven Spielberg | 1981 | USA | Format: 35mm | 111 min  Need to see this by Jamie Benning on the making of Raiders of the Lost Ark. So much filmmaking and storytelling insight, it's ridiculous. And well worth the popcorn. Watch it in installments.

Captain's Log. Star Date 07.17.13 Atop the midweek hump, you will see in the distance, the following: An interview with Jamie Benning, on his unique documentaries about the making of Star Wars, Jaws and Indiana Jones (and while you're at it, watch Benning's Raiders of the Lost Ark making-of doc here ; A list of grant deadlines this summer (because crowdfunding's not the only way to raise money for your movie, right?) A chance to ask Nicolas Winding Refn important or dumb questions on Reddit at 11 AM ET/8 AM PT today; A funny list of " anti-narrative " film ideas; A list of 10 lessons picked up at the IFP narrative labs; A quick look at a robotic camera system that can allow one person to control multiple cameras in a live sporting event (hope it's not bad news for live event camera crews); A DIY film marketing tip that should've made the list on Monday but... oh well; and, Beautiful, enigmatic and haunting photos by one of my fa

Captain's Log. (Be a Future) Star Date 07.15.13 Your filmmaking strategy is being impacted as we speak by the people, places and things you stumble upon in your daily life.  Stories and concepts work their way into your brain and gel with what's already there to trigger that bright idea.  You can't help it, your brain is a sponge. And so to help you soak in useful knowledge and interesting tidbits, here are a couple of links and stories to start your day right, wherein... Evan Luzi recommended 5 IOS apps for filmmakers . Josh Golding explains how to create dramatic tension and suspense using the beat sheet . Film composer Rolfe Kent shares his experience advice on making music for indie film. You might be witnessing the birth of a new cinematic genre ? A phone with a 21-megapixel camera exists . Ryan Koo helps you decide what aspect ratio to use . Math and science can actually make you more creative. Alright that's it for now.  Feel free to share an

It seems like we might be living in a golden age for documentaries.  It's not only that the sheer numbers of documentaries being made has spiked in recent years but also the high quality and breadth of topic has exponentially improved as well.  Doc-loving audiences must be elated. The proliferation of digital media technology surely has a hand in this.  Also, the success of the political (ideological?) documentary, the nature and history channels and the onslaught of reality shows have normalized the viewing of documentaries as a genre and made it as popular as the horror or action film.  And finally the ground Vice magazine has broken with their hip, edgy, relevant and informative short documentaries across a variety of topics on Youtube and HBO has given documentaries further staying power in the mainstream culture. It's a good time to be watching documentaries and it's a good time to make them.  That's why it doesn't surprise me to now see other media

Film fans are no stranger to the works of Pedro Almodovar .  He has established himself among the greats with his signature style composed of flairs for whimsical irreverence and melodramatic colors taken to a hysterical artistic level.  Although they might not seem to, they possess a certain gravitas because as ridiculous as the characters seem to act and are, they're still grounded with a sensual spirit and authentic emotions. Upon the release of his newest comedy in 20 years, I'm So Excited! , Almodovar wrote notes for The Paris Review (but first published by El País) on his process of making comedies and I distilled 4 points of advice filmmakers can use in making theirs. EVEN COMEDY THAT SEEMS SPONTANEOUS REQUIRES REHEARSAL. "Although we associate comedy with spontaneity, the comedies I’ve made to date—including this new one, I’m So Excited! —are rehearsed exhaustively during preproduction and afterward during shooting. Spontaneity is always the product of reh

So the verdict came in and  a MPAA title registration bureau arbitration ruled Tuesday that The Weinstein Co. could not use the title  The Butler  on its upcoming film, due to be released Aug. 16, because that previously served as the title of a 1916 short film that now belongs to the Warner Bros. library .  High-powered attorney, David Boies, fresh off his Supreme Court win, issued the following statement, "The suggestion that there is a danger of confusion between The Weinstein Co.’s 2013 feature movie and a 1917 [sic] short that has not been shown in theaters, television, DVDs, or in any other way for almost a century makes no sense. The award has no purpose except to restrict competition and is contrary to public policy."  Basically, the MPAA title registration bureau decided that the market at large (meaning you and I) would confuse 2013's The Butler, a feature film about an African-American butler serving at the White House for 34 years, with 1916's The Butl